Lauderdale firefighter dies saving her family

In this photo taken in February, provided by Kaleigh Hellums, Beth Childers, left, and her friend Kaleigh Hellums pose together at EMT school at Muscle Shoals, Ala. (AP Photo/TimesDaily, Kaleigh Hellums)

ANDERSON, Alabama -- Anderson Police Chief Carla McGee said Beth Childers would have done anything for her 2-year-old grandson, including giving up her life.

"And she did," McGee said Wednesday. "Without her actions, that baby might not have made it out of the house either."

Elizabeth "Beth" Diana Childers, 42, 8274 Lauderdale 50, Anderson, a member of the Anderson Volunteer Fire Department, died Wednesday morning inside her home after she helped her husband get her grandson and daughter out of their burning house, officials said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene by Lauderdale County Coroner Andy High.

"She died a hero, putting her loved ones before herself," Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis said. "Our prayers are with her family and members of the Fire Department."

Authorities said Childers was asleep inside the residence with her husband, their 2-year-old grandson and her 17-year-old daughter when the fire started.

McGee said Childers apparently passed their grandson out of a bedroom window just before a part of the house collapsed, trapping her inside.

"She couldn't get out, and no one could get in to help her," McGee said. "I was there pretty soon after the call came out and it was a helpless feeling."

McGee said Childers' husband, Scott, their grandson, Caden Wise, and Childers' daughter, Heather, were taken to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence for treatment.

All three were admitted, according to hospital officials.

Scott Childers is in fair condition, while Heather Wise and Caden Wise, whose mother is another of Childers' daughters, are both in good condition, according to hospital officials.

Pastor Bill Barlow, of Bethel Baptist Church in Anderson, where Heather Wise attended, went to the hospital Wednesday morning to be with the family.

"It's just a sad situation," Barlow said. "This is something that has shocked the entire Anderson community."

Authorities said the Childerses were awakened by smoke inside the house.

The fire was reported at 1:30 a.m., and firefighters from Rogersville, Elgin and Lexington joined Anderson firefighters in battling the blaze.

Morris Lentz, president of the Lauderdale County Volunteer Firefighters Association and member of the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department, said when Rogersville firefighters arrived, the house was fully involved.

"We were the second department there and the fire was already very intense and coming out of each end of the house," Lentz said.

Officials said Childers' body was found inside a back bedroom where she had handed her grandson out of the window.

"She and her husband are good people," said Rogersville police officer B.J. Tully, who was the former mayor of Anderson. "Very nice, easy going and were really devoted to the fire department."

Friends of the family said the Childerses had lived at the residence for just a few years and had been members of the Anderson Volunteer Fire Department for just more than a year.

Anderson Fire Chief Joey Phillips said the Childerses always could be counted on to help when needed.

Alabama State fire Marshall Jimmy Collier investigates a fire that destroyed a home near Anderson, Ala., early Wednesday, July 11, 2012, killing Elizabeth Diana Childers. Childers, who was a member of the Anderson Volunteer Fire Department, was apparently trapped inside her burning home after handing her 2-year-old grandson out a window to her husband Scott Childers. (AP Photo/The TimesDaily, Matt McKean)

"They were very active in the department," Phillips said.

Lentz said after the fire was out, everyone at the residence gathered in a circle for prayer.

"Not only for the family, but for us also. Because every firefighter has a broken heart today," Lentz said. "Being a firefighter is a brotherhood, a family. I felt so sorry for the Anderson firefighters. You could see the stress on their faces."

On the Anderson Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page, several individual members of regional fire departments have posted comments expressing their thoughts for Childers and the department members.

Phillips said the number of people calling and expressing their sympathy has been overwhelming.

"The telephone has rung all day," he said.

Anderson Fire Department members posted a comment asking the public to keep the Childers family and the Anderson firefighter family in their prayers.

"We lost one of our own this morning. Gone but never forgotten. Beth, we all love you," they posted.

Another post included, "Firemen never die, they simply burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives that they save."

"After what she did, that's very fitting," Willis said.

Lentz said neighboring departments are going to be taking calls for Anderson as they recover and heal from Childers' loss.

Firefighters said the fire appeared to have started in a front bedroom of the house, but a cause has not been determined.

The Alabama State Fire Marshal's office and the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office are investigating the fire to try to determine the cause.